June 2014

MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014

GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN

In chapters 4-7 of the Book of Revelation the apostle John is taken on a tour of heaven.

Revelation 4:4 talks about 24 elders that surround God's Throne.

Revelation 4:6 talks about four living beings (cherubim) in front of God's Throne.

Revelation 4:8 says that these four beings NEVER STOP, day or night, praising God and saying:

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

And that "Whenever the living creatures GIVE GLORY, HONOR AND THANKS to Him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM who sits on the throne and WORSHIP HIM WHO LIVES FOR EVER AND EVER: They LAY THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE and say:

"YOU ARE WORTHY, our Lord and God, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER, for you created all things, and BY YOUR WILL THEY WERE CREATED AND HAVE THEIR BEING." (Revelation 4:8-11).

There's TOTAL FREEDOM in the heavenly realm.

We're NOT COERCED to do anything.

And there's CONSTANT, VOLUNTARY, UNINTERRUPTED PRAISE in heaven.

It's not that these elders or four living beings are obligated to praise and worship the Father and Jesus: it's THAT THEY CAN'T STOP.

They CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES!

They are in the Presence of Almighty God, they see His Face, see His glory, and praises just ERUPT SPONTANEOUSLY out of them.

They don't even have to try: Adoration just comes GUSHING out of them.

The same heavenly scene is described in Isaiah 6:1-4 .

And THE SAME THING that happens to these elders and cherubim HAPPENS TO US when we THINK about our God and Savior, connect with Him in spirit, and praise Him from the depths of our beings.

All who feel "down", depressed, defeated, empty, bored... who feel that life "has no purpose and no meaning"...

All who face difficult circumstances...

All who need some sort of "breakthrough" in their lives or finances...

Here is THE ANSWER, THE SOLUTION TO whatever you're facing, be it some of the above, or ALL of the above:

AND START PRAISING HIM from the midst of your body (stomach and kidneys area).

I GUARANTEE, in Jesus' Name, that it won't take but a few SECONDS, at most A COUPLE OF MINUTES, before His praises BEGIN TO FLOW SPONTANEOUSLY OUT OF YOU, just like they emanate from those heavenly beings.

And if you need extra inspiration to get started, go to a quiet place and read one of the Psalms... like 16, 24, 68,103, or 106

NOBODY does it better than King David.

That's why he is THE MAN AFTER God's OWN HEART.

Humanly speaking he wasn't perfect, but HE KNEW HOW TO PRAISE.

And Jesus lifted him up, STILL DOES TODAY, and got him out of every mess he made.

Here's a great spiritual secret, which SHOULDN'T BE A SECRET AT ALL, IT SHOULD BE SHOUTED FROM THE ROOF TOPS:

You simply CANNOT praise and exalt Jesus WITHOUT ELEVATING YOURSELF in the process.

It's UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE.

It CANNOT be done.

When we praise and adore Him WHO LIVES IN US, we lift Him up and, in the process, LIFT OUR OWN SPIRITS UP, and our own selves.

Praise LIFTS US UP AND OUT OF WHATEVER circumstances we are facing, I don't care WHAT they may be.

Satan has NO WEAPONS -- and NO ANSWER for - SPONTANEOUS, ON-GOING SPIRITUAL PRAISE.

The creep is both HELPLESS before it...

And he's also ALLERGIC to it... (Psalms 8:2)

Praising Jesus REPELS every evil force and satanic spiritual stronghold from your life.

Instead of "fighting" Satan and doing "warfare" against an enemy whom Jesus HAS ALREADY and FOREVER CONQUERED, START PRAISING GOD THIS WAY.

And watch every force of darkness, including Satan himself FLEE.

Watch EVERY satanic roadblock, every obstacle, every ENEMY VANISH right before your eyes.

Praise IS THE KEY TO VICTORY in whatever situation life has thrown your way, in whatever circumstance you're facing.

STOP COMPLAINING AND START PRAISING!!!

The life of EVERY born-again Christian should be FILLED with praises for God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Not once in a while, when we're bored and have "nothing better to do".

But ON A DAILY BASIS.

We are to be CONTINUOUSLY FILLED with the Spirit praising and MAKING MELODY IN OUR HEARTS to Jesus (Ephesians 5:19).

There are TOO MANY REASONS to praise our God and Savior. Praise Him, if nothing else, BECAUSE HE, the Almighty Creator, BELONGS TO YOU.

If you're born-again, Jesus BELONGS TO YOU.

He's... EVERYTHING.

All things WERE MADE BY Him and without Him HAS NOTHING been made that was made... (John 1:1-2)

What more could ANYONE want?

Glory to Jesus, Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! For His mercies are NEW each morning. Great is His faithfulness.

From eternity to eternity He is God. There is NO GOD BESIDE HIM. There is NO SAVIOR beside Him.

Glory to the King of kings! For His Mercy endures forever. His Wisdom is never-ending.

We adore you Jesus, we praise you according to the riches of your glory in us.

Thank you for choosing us and predestining us before the foundation of the world to be your sons and heirs.

Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Praise Him, universal Church!

Praise and adore Him, Body of Christ!

Praise Him, angels of God!

Praise Him, heavenly host!

Let EVERY THING that has breath, PRAISE JESUS FOREVER!!!

In case you're wondering... I'm higher than a kite right now... not because I've smoked pot or taken some illegal substance.

It's because I'M DRUNK.

Not with alcohol, but WITH THE SPIRIT.

That's what happened to the Early Church when it was born on the Day of Pentecost 33-34 A.D.

And that's THE WAY the end-time Church SHOULD LEAVE this earthly realm and be translated into the heavenly dimension:

DRUNK OUT OF OUR MINDS in the Spirit.

In trying to describe this heavenly euphoria with human language, the apostle Peter finally just said it's "JOY UNSPEAKABLE (indescribable) and FULL OF glory".

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!!

The MORE we praise Him, the HIGHER we get.

(Pause and meditate).

And the HIGHER we ascend into Him, the MORE BEINGS AND THINGS will be UNDER us, UNDER our feet.

The more DOMINION we have.

Hallel u Yah ! Glory to His Name!

Love, praise and TOTAL ADORATION TO YOU, Lord Jesus!

Let's praise Him until we GET SO HIGH in Spirit... SO HIGH INTO JESUS... that next thing you know is... WE'RE GONE!!!

Let's get SO CAUGHT UP in praising Jesus that we just GET... well..."caught up".

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

EXCEPTIONALISM

"You say, ‘WE WANT TO BE LIKE THE NATIONS, LIKE THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD, who serve wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen" (Ezekiel 20:32)

As the FIFA World Cup begins to wind down (not a moment too soon) and I see the UNPRECEDENTED amount of coverage it has gotten on American media, as though soccer were THIS NATION'S favorite sport, I couldn't help thinking that one of the things that is SERIOUSLY WRONG with America is WE WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

Instead of appreciating and cultivating the qualities and mindset that made us unique and EXCEPTIONAL, the greatest nation on earth, especially the Judeo-Christian principles on which this nation was founded, we want to be "JUST LIKE the rest of the world".

And the mass media, who is LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS nonsensical attitude, now even WANTS TO DICTATE what sports we should like.

Just like FOR YEARS they've been shoving homosexuality down our throats, as a "normal" and "totally acceptable" lifestyle.

You can't even watch ONE freakin' TV show or Hollywood movie that doesn't have a homosexual character, always portrayed as nice, normal, ethical, and well adjusted: just "a regular" guy or gal.

And when we're raptured He'll give you a NEW BODY FREE of those propensities, because that body in which you move around IS NOT THE REAL YOU, anyway.

However, that doesn't mean that being gay is natural or that gay people are happy, "regular guys", as media portrays them.

I've ministered to many gays and THEY KNOW their feelings and behavior are NOT normal. And THEY'RE NOT HAPPY, regardless of what some of their spoke persons may say publicly.

O.K. Martel, I see your point, but what's wrong with watching the World Cup?

Nothing.

If you REALLY HAPPEN to like soccer, knock yourself out.

However -- and I apologize in advance if I hurt anyone's feelings by saying this -- I've been to many of those "other countries" where soccer IS the NUMBER ONE sport.

Their WHOLE LIFE revolves around that boring game. Even Islamic nations LOVE it.

Let me tell you what MOST OF THOSE NATIONS have in common: MEDIOCRITY.

They've ALWAYS wanted TO BE LIKE US: live the way we live, enjoy the blessings we enjoy... WHY on earth would WE want TO BE LIKE THEM?

This reminds me of ANOTHER NATION 3,100 years ago named Israel.

They were unique. They were SPECIAL. They were blessed, and PROTECTED by God.

And they also wanted to be "like all the OTHER nations".

So, they went to Samuel and ASKED FOR a king (1 Samuel 8:4-19).

Samuel was displeased, took it up with the Lord, and God answered:

GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT "...it is not you they have rejected, but THEY HAVE REJECTED ME AS THEIR KING" (1 Samuel 8:7).

Even when Samuel warned them that the king would take their sons and make them HIS servants, use them to plow the soil, make weapons, and fight wars...and that their daughters would become cooks, and bakers... that he would take their grain, wine, cattle, and flocks... and that they WOULD BECOME HIS SLAVES...

They would NOT hear it. They were intransigent in their demand.

And they got Saul.

Not only did they become HIS slaves, as Samuel predicted, it wasn't too long after that that they became SLAVES to the Assyrians, who TOOK THEM CAPTIVE and removed them from their land to God knows where.

To this day, the whereabouts of the 10 northern tribes are known ONLY to the very God they rejected.

The only Good News in all this is that, after Saul, God in His great Mercy, gave them David.

And so it will be for these United States.

Its unsaved population will be "LIKE EVERYONE ELSE" during the coming tribulation.

They will have A STRANGE KING rule over them (Revelation 13:7).

Then God will give them Jesus, who'll rule the earth as the Son of David, from David's Throne in Jerusalem.

Thank God for His magnificent Grace.

Thank God that, in the end, He gives us WHAT He wants (which is to bless us), and NOT what we want or deserve.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2014

ISAIAH 53

Whenever a Christian tries to convince a Jew about Jesus being the Messiah, ALL they ever come up with, is Isaiah 53.

Don't get me wrong, that passage obviously speaks of Jesus, and very eloquently explains how "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed".

I have enormous love, respect and admiration for the great prophet Isaiah.

All I'm saying is, they already know WHAT TO EXPECT from Christians, they know where you're coming from, and they're more than ready to "argue" their point.

The other sad thing is that most Christians, even those in ministry, are so ignorant of the Scriptures that, invariably, the Jewish rabbi, who's studied Torah since he was 5 years old, not to mention Talmud, Mishnah, Tosefta and other Jewish resources, will take him to an Old Testament scripture, quoted in the New Testament by Jesus Himself, and ends up tripping the well-intentioned Christian.

You're never going to out-torah a Jew, UNLESS you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY know your Bible, and UNLESS you're TOTALLY BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The best one can hope for, with that approach, is stalemate.

I have debated several such Jews, one in particular. If I mentioned his name, many would recognize him because he's a well-known rabbi, with an international audience, and specializes in "neutralizing" the efforts of groups, like Jews for Jesus, to win Jews to their Messiah.

I didn't even mention Isaiah 53. I went STRAIGHT TO HEART OF THE MATTER: THE RESURRECTION:

It caught the rabbi totally off-guard. He wasn't expecting such DIRECTNESS.

He was polite and gave me some "prepared" answers, which I refuted point-by-point.

I also DIDN'T USE a single New Testament scripture. No need. One thing I learned from that wonderful apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul, is you can MAKE A TOTALLY CONVINCING CASE FOR JESUS BEING THE MESSIAH FROM THE Tanach.

I was a little surprised that the rabbi tried to put some untruths past me. I guess he was hoping I wouldn't be well informed on such matters as the historicity of Jesus, apart from the New Testament.

We exchanged several e-mails back and forth, THREE ROUNDS, TO BE EXACT.

Suffice it to say, since my last (fourth) e-mail, which was sent 5½ years ago, I haven't heard A WORD from the rabbi.

I had him, and he knew it. And I told him as much.

He had NOTHING to counter with, weaken or diminish, THE INEXORABLE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION.

I guess you could call it a "fourth round TKO".

To be fair, IT HELPS ENORMOUSLY TO KNOW THE TRUTH: TO KNOW Jesus, and to KNOW that He lives:

No "believing", no wishin' and hopin', no wishful thinking, no "this is what I believe because it's what MY RELIGION taught me".

Rather, it's KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW THE TRUTH, because you know the written Word and because you've experienced Jesus in the innermost parts of your being.

How can you lose when you have the ABSOLUTE CONVICTION that YOU KNOW?

Not what we WANT the Truth to be, BUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS: WHO HE IS!

Truth, as I often say, CANNOT BE DISPROVED.

Jesus IS the Truth. Consequently, Jesus CANNOT be disproved.

For good measure, and to deal the final coup de gras, (when you have the adversary on the ropes, don't EVER retreat. As David did with Goliath, FINISH HIM OFF!) I followed up with a few "choice" Old Testament gems like 1 Kings Chapter 9; Daniel 9:24-27; Psalms 22 and Zechariah 13:6.

(For those who lack discernment, I'm talking about SPIRITUALLY "finishing off" the adversary, NOT physically).

The enemy isn't the rabbi, or even his misguided religion, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN Satan, and the SEEDS OF DECEPTION he's planted in their minds.

The overwhelming evidence of Jesus' Resurrection, and the Word Himself, SILENCED THE RABBI.

All competent generals know that it's good military tactic to attack the enemy, WHERE HE DOESN'T EXPECT and catch him by surprise.

We can argue ALL DAY about whether this Scripture means this, or whether that Scripture means that.

After all is said and done: THE RESURRECTION is WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO:

If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then He's neither God nor Messiah.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

JOHN HUS: HERO OF THE FAITH

"God MOVES NO MAN to believe WHAT IS FALSE" John Hus

"Alas, drag my poor carcass to death, so that you cannot sin any longer against an innocent victim!" "Leave the mercy or punishment of my soul to Him who is a just judge and not like you unfortunate blind ones. My trust is in the Almighty God and in my Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed me and has called me to preach His Gospel to the last breath of life... HE WILL HAND ME THIS CUP TODAY, OUT OF WHICH I SHALL DRINK BLISS AND MY SALVATION IN ETERNITY. HIS BLESSED NAME BE PRAISED BY ALL!" John Hus

"Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee TO HAVE MERCY ON MY ENEMIES." John Hus (1369-1415)

Jan Hus was a Czech priest, and Master at Charles University in Prague, who also preceded Luther as a reformer.

He was a key contributor to what became known as Protestantism.

He is known to us by the anglicized version of his name, John Hus.

Hus was greatly influenced by John Wycliffe and his teachings mirrored, in large part, those of his predecessor.

He would pay A MUCH HIGHER PRICE for them: MARTYRDOM.

Jan Hus's life and teachings, in turn, would greatly influence Martin Luther, the leader of the Reformation.

Hus tried to reform the church (actually, THE RELIGION that called itself "the church") by delineating the moral failings of clergy, bishops, and the papacy, from his pulpit.

Archbishop Zbyněk Zajíc tolerated this, and even appointed Hus as preacher to the clergy's biennial synod, UNTIL the Pope chose to intervene.

Having little choice on the matter, the archbishop complied by issuing a decree against Wycliffe, as well as FORBIDDING ANY FURTHER ATTACKS ON THE CLERGY.

Since greed and lust for power seldom go on vacation, in 1408 there was division in Catholic ranks caused by the Western Schism, in which Gregory XII in Rome and Benedict XIII in Avignon BOTH CLAIMED THE PAPACY.

In 1409, the Council of Pisa tried to end the schism by electing Alexander V as Pope.

Since neither Gregory nor Benedict would renounce their claims to the papacy,Alexander would eventually be declared "antipope" by the Council of Constance in 1418.

On December 20, 1409 Alexander V issued a papal bull (it was "bull", alright) demanding that all copies of Wycliffe's writings be burned and that his doctrines be repudiated.

He also BANNED FREE PREACHING.

Hus appealed to Alexander V, but his appeal was rejected. Alexander (appropriately named after the Antichrist) then PROCEEDED TO EXCOMMUNICATE John Hus and his followers, known as Hussites.

Like other reformers Hus decried THE CORRUPTION IN RELIGIOUS HIERARCHY, THE SALE OF INDULGENCES, and the infamous Crusades saying that "no Pope or bishop HAD THE RIGHT TO TAKE UP THE SWORD in the name of the Church".

Like Jesus, he taught that, RATHER, the Pope or ANY bishop should "PRAY FOR HIS ENEMIES AND BLESS THOSE THAT CURSE HIM" (Matthew 5:44) and that "man OBTAINS FORGIVENESS OF SINS BY TRUE REPENTANCE, NOT BY MONEY".

Hus was subsequently and FALSELY accused of "heresy" and lured to the Council of Constance WITH A FALSE PROMISE of "safe conduct".

When he reached the Council HE WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPRISONED, TRIED, CONDEMNED AND BURNED AT THE STAKE on July 6, 1415, for his faith in Jesus Christ.

His martyrdom horrified the people of Bohemia galvanizing them even more rapidly against Papal teachings.

Pope Martin V countered by issuing ANOTHER Papal bull (more "bull" from organized religion, who would have thought?) that ALL REFORMERS like Hus and Wycliffe, and all their followers, BE SLAUGHTERED.

WHATEVER your denominational persuasion, or lack thereof, IT'S UTTERLY REVOLTING THAT THESE HORRENDOUS AND DESPOTIC ACTS TOOK PLACE (SUPPOSEDLY) "in the Name of Christ", the Prince of Peace.

Or that they were ORDERED BY His supposed "vicar" on earth.

But THEY DID. It's a matter OF RECORD.

The Crusaders LOST ALL THREE of the infamous "Crusades" that followed.

A century later, as much as NINETY PERCENT of the Czech Crown lands still followed Hussite teachings. Glory to Jesus!

Despite Rome's opposition, Hus' teachings profoundly influenced all of Europe, including Martin Luther himself, culminating eventually on the much needed Reformation.

In 1999, nearly SIX CENTURIES LATER, Pope John Paul II expressed "deep regret for the cruel death inflicted" on Hus.

Although "late", and certainly better than "never", if the phrase "TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE" was ever apropos, THAT WAS IT.

John Paul II, however, could have stated that Hus was NO HERETIC, but a true Christian, and that he spoke Truth.

He SAID NOTHING about Hus' UNJUST "excommunication" or about HOW CORRECT AND BIBLICALLY ACCURATE His teachings were.

Today we have a statue of Jan Hus at the Union Cemetery in Bohemia, New York (on Long Island) erected by Czech immigrants to the New York area in 1893.

There are two churches in New York City, one in Brooklyn (153 Ocean Avenue), and another in Manhattan (351 East 74th Street), named for Hus: respectively the John Hus Moravian Church, the Jan Hus Presbyterian Church with its adjacent Jan Hus Playhouse.

Hus is also honored with a feast day on July 6 in the Unitas Fratrum or Moravian Church, which claims Hus as a spiritual forerunner.

In the Czech Republic, Jan Hus Day (Den upálení mistra Jana Husa) is observed on July 6, the anniversary of his martyrdom, as a public holiday.

In the United States Hus is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) as well as in the Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Not only is he viewed as a hero in his native Czechoslovakia, but in Europe and even in the U.S.

More importantly, John Hus is A GREAT CHAMPION OF THE TRUE Christian FAITH.

John Hus is both, a role model and HERO to EVERY true Christian, who owe him a great debt of gratitude.

If you get nothing else from this message, please GET THIS:

It TOOK brave men like Hus, and women, too, WILLING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE, to get the Gospel to you.

What RELIGION and RELIGIOUS DESPOTS tried to eradicate, Jesus HAS MARVELOUSLY PRESERVED.

His Truth is marching on.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014

NO ONE COULD SHUT THEM UP !

When I see HOW RELUCTANT most American Christians are to share Jesus, makes me want to puke.

They ARE NOT EMBARRASSED to talk about some satanic movie or video game, or about Kim's or Lindsay's latest sexcapade, but THEY ARE ASHAMED to talk about Jesus.

NOBODY is threatening them...

NO ONE is persecuting them...

And yet these religious WIMPS are AFRAID that someone will mock their faith or laugh at them.

That's what it ALL boils down to...

They can't take a little ridicule, if need be, FOR THEIR GOD, who was willing TO DIE the most gruesome and excruciating death IN ORDER TO SAVE THEM.

Good thing JESUS WASN'T LIKE that: He hung BUCK NAKED on the cross in front of everyone and took vicious, unimaginable mockery, coarse insults, and ridicule for OUR sakes.

Good thing, the Early Church WASN'T like that.

Had they been like some of the weaklings reading this, THE CHRISTIAN FAITH would have become extinct.

There would be NO SAVED PEOPLE today.

And Jesus would have NO ONE TO RAPTURE.

Although Jesus Himself is MORE THAN ENOUGH reward for anyone, God must have some SPECIAL RECOGNITION in Himself, for those BRAVE men and women of the first, second and third centuries, who COULDN'T STOP TALKING about Jesus.

Even when being under CONSTANT THREAT from both Roman and Jewish authorities.

Even when VICIOUSLY and relentlessly persecuted.

Even when their LIVES and those of their loved ones were IN DANGER...

Even when faced with the grim prospect of torture, rape, being sold into slavery, crucified, starved to death, burned alive, or torn apart by wild beasts in the infamous Roman Coliseum.

(I can't wait for that HORRENDOUS landmark to be wiped off the map).

NO THREAT and no amount of persecution, COULD KEEP THEM FROM SHARING CHRIST.

NOTHING AND NO ONE COULD SHUT THEM UP!!!

But today's COWARDS, whom NO ONE is persecuting or threatening, are TOO AFRAID of others' "disapproval", "rejection", and of "not being popular".

If Paul felt compelled to tell first century Christians to MAN UP (1 Corinthians 16:13), I can't even imagine what he would do or say to this timid, anemic generation!

It's NOT being "rejected' or becoming UNPOPULAR that some of you should be ASHAMED OF...

But rather OF BEING COMPARED TO those first heroic Christians...

The Early Church GOBBLED UP the mightiest and MOST FEARED military machine in history with the Message of Jesus.

They did it WITHOUT WAR, swords, spears, or conventional weapons of any sort:

I want to personally meet and thank each and every one of them in the Kingdom of God.

Those were REAL Christians...

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

THE "FAKE" RAPTURE

Just when I thought stupid religionists COULDN'T POSSIBLY invent MORE LUDICROUS CRAP, they decided to OUTDO themselves with their galloping stupidity.

We've been hearing about the so-called "fake rapture" for several years, and of course decided TO IGNORE IT as it is just TOO STUPID for anyone but a few religious loons to take seriously.

However, we're now hearing from those loons on a regular basis.

I googled the term recently, just out of curiosity, and found over 121,000 blogs and websites that deal with that topic and 60,000 plus YouTube videos.

And you wonder WHY Jesus warned, even His disciples, about THE MASSIVE RELIGIOUS DECEPTION that would take place, presumably in His Name, by people who say that "Jesus IS the Christ", just prior to His appearing? (Matthew 24:4)

U-N- freakin' BELIEVABLE.

HOW can ANYONE pass himself or herself off as "Christian" and disseminate THIS UNBIBLICAL MANURE?

There isn't ONE verse, from Genesis to Revelation that talks about a "fake" Rapture.

NOT ONE.

But that doesn't stop these imbeciles from presenting their moronic theory as "fact" or as "biblical".

They got everyone from NASA to aliens, to the Illuminati, to Barney the Dinosaur, involved in some "BLUE BEAM" fantasy about staging a "fake rapture" to confuse REAL believers.

This just PROVES HOW DESPERATE post-tribbers are to gain support for their false doctrine, that they have to resort to some wacko, "beam me up" Star Trek theory.

Of course, when we ask these nitwits to produce VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE that NASA, or aliens, or the Illuminati are involved in so nefarious a project -- which would require them to possess SUPERNATURAL POWERS COMPARABLE to God's -- they CAN'T.

Likewise, when we ask them for scientific credentials to PROVE their expertise as to what can and cannot be done with laser technology, they are equally incapable.

It's always "I heard", or "I read" or "I spoke" to some expert.

Fine. Give us THE EXPERT'S NAME so we can contact him and verify if he's qualified.

Evidently, these retards, with nothing better to do, have seen too many sci-fi movies and equate the Rapture with science fiction.

But they won't be able to call on Gene Roddenberry or Steven Spielberg when they face Antichrist since, IF THEY ARE STILL ALIVE, they'll be too busy running and hiding to save their behinds... not to mention THEIR STUPID HEADS.

They are the ones WHO WILL WET THEMSELVES, when THE VERY REAL Rapture happens, and THE VERY REAL Jesus appears, and starts sending judgment upon judgment ON THEM and the rest of the LIARS who'll remain on this planet.

Besides being woeful ignoramuses, THESE PEOPLE ARE LIARS who ADD and SUBTRACT from God's Word ON PURPOSE, to suit their fear-filled agenda.

They SERVE SATAN, THE FATHER OF LIES (John 8:44).

They are FEAR MONGERS who SERVE the spirit of fear, who is a manifestation of Satan himself (2 Timothy 1:7).

Are you saying I CAN'T be saved if I'm post trib?

No. Although you're WRONG on eschatology, you CAN BE post-trib and be saved.

But YOU CANNOT INTENTIONALLY ADD and SUBTRACT from God's Word with impunity:

"For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK:

And IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, God SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, and from the things which are written in this book".

Unless you think that Jesus ISSUED STERN WARNINGS like these in Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18-19 because He "couldn't think of anything else to say".

It's one thing to spread lies like this "in the Name of Christ" OUT SHEER IGNORANCE, it's another to do so WITH MALICE AND FORETHOUGHT:

Even Paul, the greatest preacher of God's Grace this world has ever heard, felt compelled to warn "it is A FEARFUL THING to fall into the hands of the Living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

Unless they repent, STOP SPREADING UNBIBLICAL LIES, fall on their faces, beg God's forgiveness, and TRULY RECEIVE CHRIST INTO THEIR HEARTS, they and their "fake blue beam rapture" will spend eternity in the BLAZING, RED-HOT lake of fire along with their illegitimate father.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014

WHEAT AND TARES

Is the Parable of the Wheat and Tares in Matthew 13:24-43 PROOF of a post tribulation rapture?

NO.

The words "catching up", "catching away", or "departure" are NOWHERE found in the text.

Post-tribbers claim that Matthew 24:30 "proves" a post trib rapture:

"Let both grow together UNTIL THE HARVEST: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together FIRST THE TARES, and bind them in bundles TO BURN THEM: but gather the wheat into my storehouse".

Their ridiculous argument is that because this parable says to "gather together the TARES FIRST and burn them", and that the wheat or grain gets put into God's storehouse AFTER the tares are collected and burnt, this "proves" that the Rapture is post-trib.

This supposedly "proves" that God JUDGES THE WICKED FIRST, then raptures and gathers the "children of the kingdom" into His storehouse.

Can someone please show me WHERE it says in that entire passage that the "children of the Kingdom" are CAUGHT UP to meet Jesus IN THE AIR, which is what happens at the Rapture? (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Oooops!

It DOESN'T say that ANYWHERE.

Why? Because this is NOT TALKING ABOUT the Rapture.

AT ALL.

Jesus says very clearly in Matthew 13:38 that:

"THE HARVEST is THE END OF THE WORLD" or "end of this age".

And again in verse 40: "so shall it be in THE END OF THIS WORLD" (or end of this age).

This is what happens AT THE END of the tribulation:

When a NEW AGE of peace and righteous rule BEGINS with Jesus and His Church reigning supreme:

The wicked (tares) are cast into the lake of fire.

The "good seed", as they're called in THIS parable, are ushered into Jesus' earthly Kingdom.

In fact, Jesus calls them "the children OF THE KINGDOM" in Matthew 13:38.

And Matthew 13:41 COULDN'T BE CLEARER: His angels will "gather OUT OF HIS KINGDOM all things that offend, and them which do iniquity".

Which part of "OUT OF HIS KINGDOM" don't these fools understand?

Jesus explains for THE THIRD TIME, which time period He is addressing:

"Then shall THE RIGHTEOUS shine forth as the sun IN THE KINGDOM of their Father" (Matthew 13:43)

You have three groups: tares that get burnt (the wicked), sons of the kingdom that are godly tribulation survivors ushered into Christ's earthly Kingdom to populate the earth during the Millennium, and you have THE RIGHTEOUS (those who were raptured 3½ years earlier) SHINING FORTH AS THE SUN in the Kingdom of THEIR FATHER.

There's NO RAPTURE (catching away) OF ANYONE in these verses.

Therefore, they have ZERO to do with the Rapture.

Consequently, they DON'T "prove" a post-trib Rapture.

All they "prove" is HOW DESPERATE post tribbers are to find ANY LOOPHOLE in the Bible to support their FALSE teaching.

Better luck next time.

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

SPIRIT OF FEAR

"...God has NOT given us the SPIRIT OF FEAR, but [the Spirit of] POWER, LOVE and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

"Perfect Love (Jesus) CASTS OUT fear" (1 John 4:18)

Fear is NOT a thing. Fear is A SPIRIT.

This evil spirit, WHO IS a manifestation of SATAN HIMSELF, has been very busy since the Garden of Eden.

He has produced an ever-growing list of phobias (FEARS) that range in number (depending on which expert you believe) from 179 to 553 (from Ablutophobia, fear of bathing, to Philophobia, fear of love, to Xenophobia, fear of aliens or extra-terrestrials).

The cells in our bodies have memory, and are able to "recall" and MANIFEST experiences (both positive and negative). They can "recall" past fear AS IF it were happening at this very moment.

Expel ALL forms of fear from your DNA.

Then KEEP FEAR OUT by abiding (STAYING IN CONTACT WITH) Perfect Love (Jesus Himself) who is INSIDE YOU and One with your born-again Spirit (1 John 4:18; 1 Corinthians 6:17):

If you catch ANY fear trying to creep back into your heart and life, REJECT IT immediately and use the antidote which is the Love (Righteousness) of God, which has been "shed abroad in our hearts by His Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5).

If you suffer from depression and/or panic (FEAR) attacks, don't just sit around moping or staring at the wall as I did many years ago, PLEASE.

Inactivity is your worst enemy. Be proactive. Exercise, walk, get things organized, GET YOUR LIFE IN ORDER.

Disorder and chaos breed fear.

Work on that project you never had time to do/finish before. If you can't think of anything else, take up a hobby.

If they are COMPLETELY DESTROYED in the "first" Gog and Magog battle (IN OUR TIME), how could they possibly STILL EXIST and INVADE ISRAEL AGAIN in the alleged "second" Gog and Magog battle, AFTER the Millennium?

2. The setting for both passages is the Millennium: Ezekiel 38:11 (God speaking) says that Gog will have an evil thought:

"And you shall say, I will go up to the land of UNWALLED VILLAGES; I will go to them that are AT REST, that DWELL SAFELY, all of them dwelling WITHOUT WALLS, and having NEITHER BARS NOR GATES".

This indicates ABSOLUTE, TOTAL SECURITY. Can anyone in their right mind EVEN REMOTELY apply such statement to the modern State of Israel?

When there are numerous walls and fences that they've erected to curtail terrorism?

Can anyone say they are "at rest" when they live under CONSTANT THREAT from Hezbollah in the North and Hamas in the South, not to mention Iran's stated desire to "wipe them off the map"?

When its citizens are often assaulted, stabbed, murdered, stoned, abducted, and when rockets are fired against them almost daily?

That description ALONE, would convince any logical person that this war COULDN'T POSSIBLY take place in our time.

The ONLY TIME when Israel will enjoy such complete security is DURING THE MILLENNIUM, when Jesus Himself, will rule from Jerusalem, and be THEIR ULTIMATE PROTECTION. Amen.

3. Ezekiel 38:4,15 clearly describe an army RIDING HORSES.

If this war took place in our time, wouldn't they use tanks, planes, ships, missiles, drones, helicopters, etc.?

4. Ezekiel 38:4, 5 and 39:9 are VERY EXPLICIT about THE TYPES OF WEAPONS the invaders will use: bucklers, shields, helmets, swords, bows, arrows, clubs and spears.

If this war took place in our time, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THE INVADERS USE SUCH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS?

Especially in light of the ENORMOUS, state of the art, military prowess that Russia presently possesses?

It makes NO SENSE whatsoever.

5. At the end of the Millennium, on the other hand, it makes TOTAL SENSE, since we know that during that wonderful era, with Jesus ruling the earth, "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. NATION WILL NOT TAKE UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NOR WILL THEY TRAIN FOR WAR ANYMORE" (Isaiah 2:4).

Clearly, all modern weapons will be recycled and disposed of during the Millennium. Hence, at the end thereof, since there are no more weapon factories in existence, and since Satan is given only "a little time" (Revelation 20:3), they HAVE TO resort to primitive weapons, built from scratch, as those explicitly described by Ezekiel.

6. As for those who would claim these weapons are "merely symbolic", if they were, the Holy Spirit would have simply said "swords" or "swords and spears" or "weapons", and NOT GIVEN SUCH VERY DETAILED description as "bucklers, shields, helmets, swords, bows, arrows, clubs and spears".

7. Furthermore, the participants are the same, the location of the battle is the same, and the outcome is the same.

8. Both accounts end with the TOTAL ANNIHILATION of the invaders.

9. Both accounts explicitly say that their demise is caused by FIRE COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND DEVOURING THEM (Ezekiel 38:22; 39:6; Revelation 20:9).

10. Well, what about the "7 years" mentioned in Ezekiel 39:9, during which Israelites will burn their weapons?

The Millennium is sandwiched in between TWO 7-year periods: one just prior, which we are in RIGHT NOW, that consists of the birth pangs and tribulation, and another AT THE END THEREOF, during which this burning of weapons and the White Throne Judgment both take place (Revelation 20:11-15).

11. The VERY FACT that they can use such weapons FOR FUEL and can burn them without injuring themselves, SHOULD BE A TIP-OFF as to the type of PRIMITIVE weapons they'll use, and in what prophetic era this will take place.

Modern weapons CAN'T BE USED for fuel as they would explode and kill anyone around them.

12. Who, in their right mind, would think that the Israelites, who will be hiding during the tribulation, would use captured weapons for fuel? Not only would they injure themselves, THEY'D MAKE IT SUPER-EASY FOR THE ANTICHRIST TO FIND THEM AND DESTROY THEM.

There's NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE that these are "two different battles" of Gog and Magog. All the biblical evidence points to ONLY ONE War of Gog and Magog, at the end of the Millennium.

It will be THE FINAL WAR for ALL time.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014

JUST ANOTHER RELIGION

The Christian Message is UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

The Gospel or Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ, through the sheer Grace of God, by simply TRUSTING what Jesus did to save us, HAS NO EQUAL (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

And yet there are millions of so called "Christians" who are UNHAPPY with the Gospel.

They and their religious leaders feel that the Gospel ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

They think that what Jesus did in order to save us ISN'T SUFFICIENT.

Therefore, they MADE REVISIONS to the true Gospel, all of them resulting in FALSE DOCTRINE, and some form of religious legalism.

By making Jesus ALONE, by Grace ALONE, through FAITH (trust) ALONE INSUFFICIENT to save, they turn Christianity into "just another religion".

By offering UNCERTAINTY of Salvation instead of FULL ASSURANCE, they make the INCOMPARABLE message of Christianity COMPARABLE TO any world class religion.

IF we CANNOT be certain of Salvation, IF Jesus ISN'T sufficient to save, IF His death and Resurrection DIDN'T get the job done, IF He cannot guarantee NEVER ENDING Salvation, IF we must ADD our own "righteousness" to what He did, HOW EXACTLY IS THAT DIFFERENT from traditional Judaism, Islam, or Buddhism?

The differences are MINIMAL.

Just different characters serving up the same basic teaching.

If Jesus NEEDS "OUR HELP" in order to save us, what kind of "Savior" does that make Him?

A pathetic, second-rate one, AT BEST.

WHY would a traditional Jew, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist feel compelled to abandon their false religion and turn to Christ, when THEY ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR?

Since Satan CAN'T COMPETE with the true Gospel, he was forced to come up with a clever and different strategy:

MUDDLE its message.

Deceive "Christians" into thinking that God needs "their help" in order to save them.

Make Christ's perfect, complete Work of Redemption on the cross INSUFFICIENT by ADDING WORKS, and thus ROB Christianity of its clear, and infinite SUPERIORITY (John 10:10).

When we preach such FALSE "gospel", THEN Satan CAN compete and offer lost souls in need of Salvation, a veritable buffet of SIMILAR religious "alternatives":

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014

BIBLICAL CRITERIA

The identity of the Antichrist has always been a highly controversial subject.

I can certainly understand why Christians would want to know. There was a time when I wanted to know.

However, it's one thing to EARNESTLY seek Truth, without preconceived agendas or favoritism, and be prepared to accept it, NO MATTER WHAT IT MIGHT BE.

It's quite another to ALREADY HAVE a favored candidate, to WANT that person to be the Antichrist, then TRY TO ADAPT the Bible to that person.

The first approach is HONEST, the second DISHONEST.

God will honor the first. God WILL DISHONOR the second.

God KNOWS OUR HEARTS. People can fool themselves, but THEY CAN'T FOOL HIM.

God WILL NOT adapt His Word to our wishes, it's the other way around: our wishes MUST adapt to His Word.

I remember several very nasty and critical emails we received from DISHONEST Kristians WHO WOULD ON PURPOSE IGNORE all the biblical evidence presented and WHO DESPERATELY wanted Antichrist to be Javier Solana (too bad, he hasn't served in the EU since 2009) or King Juan Carlos, who just abdicated Spain's throne in favor of his son.

So much for both those stupid theories: And, yes, THEY ARE UNBIBLICAL and STUPID.

We still get angry emails from those who rabidly WANT Antichrist to be the President (no drama Obama), or Prince Charles (oh, yeah, he looks terrifying), or Prince William, Prince Harry, the Pope, or even (in the case of one particular idiot) Louis Farrakhan, or (in the case of another idiot) Jordan's King Abdullah.

These people invariably accuse us of "needing to read the Bible", yet they're the ones who NEVER OFFER A SINGLE VERSE OF SCRIPTURE to prove the Antichrist is their candidate of choice.

For the record, I quote the Bible in Seed of Satan,VERBATIM and IN CONTEXT, 237 TIMES.

P-l-e-a-s-e, I'm a Bible addict: telling me to "read the Bible" is like telling Lady Gaga to wear weird outfits.

However, for those who have a "preferred candidate", here's the BIBLICAL CRITERIA Antichrist, whoever he may be, MUST FULFILL in its ENTIRETY.

If the candidate FAILS EVEN ONE of these BIBLICAL requirements, he CANNOT be the Antichrist.

God SAID this person MUST:

1. Be the serpent's seed [Genesis 3:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:3]. 2. Religion of his ancestors must be polytheistic [Daniel 11:37]. 3. His kingdom will be "partly strong, and partly broken" [Daniel 2:42]. 4. His kingdom will be "mingled with the seed of men, but shall not cleave to one another" even as iron and clay don't mix [Daniel 2:43]. 5. He must have a mouth that "speaks very great things" [Daniel 7:20]. 6. He must be a king [Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:10-12]. 7. Must be a king of fierce countenance [Daniel 8:23]. 8. Must come from the Greek Empire [Daniel 8:8,9]. 9. Must come from within the territory of the former Roman Empire [Daniel 7:23-27]. 10. He will magnify himself, even to the army of heaven [Daniel 8:11,25; 11:26]. 11. Must be a military genius [Revelation 13:4]. 12. Must be a man [Revelation 13:18] 13. Must believe himself to be God [Daniel 11:36-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:4]. 14. Must be someone who already lived, is not presently on earth, and rises from the dead during the tribulation [Revelation 11:7; 17:8]. 15. Must be one of the "seven kings" mentioned in Revelation 17:10, but also an "eighth king".16. Must be "like a leopard" [Revelation 13:2].

There's ONLY ONE individual in history who fulfills each and every one of these requirements COMPLETELY and EFFORTLESSLY: former King of the Greek Empire and future Antichrist, Alex the not-so-great.

I hate to disappoint those who desperately want him to be President Obama, but he fails #1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15 and 16. NO WAY can he be Obama.

Prince Charles fails #1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11,13,14,15 and 16.

NO WAY can he be Charles. Besides, Cowmilla'd never allow it.

Same goes for Princes William and Harry.

Former King Juan Carlos fails #1-5, 7, 8, 11, 13-16. NO WAY can he be Juan Carlos.

Newly crowned King Felipe VI of Spain fails #1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16. NO WAY can he be Felipe.

Javier Solana fails #1-8, 10, 11, 13-16. NO WAY can he be Mr. Solana.

Pope Francis fails #1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16. NO WAY can he be this Pope, or ANY OTHER Pope.

Farrakhan fails ALL the requirements except #2 and #12. NO WAY can he be Louis Farrakhan.

Jordan's King Abdullah fails #1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16. NO WAY can he be Abdullah.

If you have problems with these requirements, take it up with God. They weren't my idea.

He wrote them.

If you want to CONTRADICT GOD, if you add or subtract from His Word ON PURPOSE (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19), He will hold you accountable, WHOEVER you are.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

CONFIDENCE

Having faith in Jesus means HAVING TOTAL CONFIDENCE that what He did in order to save us is ETERNALLY SUFFICIENT to secure our ETERNAL SALVATION.

TOTAL CONFIDENCE that His shed Blood, death, burial, Resurrection and Ascension GOT THE JOB DONE - once and for all!

Jesus is God and He requires NO HELP from you, me, religion, OR ANYONE or ANYTHING ELSE in order to save us.

ALL He needs is YOUR HEART:

ALL He needs is YOUR CHOICE to receive Him into the innermost parts of your being as only God and Savior, and YOUR CHOICE to TRUST HIM COMPLETELY.

Yes, and Jesus PAID FOR all FIFTY THOUSAND OF THEM by His Sacrifice at Golgotha.

He TOOK ALL ONE MILLION of your sins AWAY! (Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 9:12,26; Hebrews 10:14)

But, HOW is that possible?

You're right: It would be impossible for just a human to accomplish something so wonderful.

But Jesus is NOT JUST human, He is ALSO God.

With God ALL THINGS are possible (Mark 10:27).

God (Jesus) took your sins and mine upon Himself, KILLED SIN, DESTROYED ORIGINAL SIN PLUS ALL YOUR SINS AND MINE FOREVER, and IS NO LONGER COUNTING sins against us BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR... (Romans 8:2-3; 1 Corinthians 5:19).

COMPLETELY!!!

God's not about to "charge us" AGAIN for sins that HE HIMSELF already PAID FOR.

He's THE ONLY ONE who can remove EVERY LAST ONE of your sins ---- FOREVER!

NO ONE else has ever made such promise.

NO ONE else CAN MAKE such promise.

‘Cause NO ONE ELSE IS God Almighty.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

ONE WORLD RELIGION

WILL false RELIGIONS UNITE into one?

One of the myths that the prophecy establishment has consistently fomented is that "ALL FALSE RELIGIONS will unite into one" during the tribulation.

"One world religion" is only true to the extent that, during the 3½ year tribulation EVERYONE will be FORCED to worship Satan and the Antichrist, under penalty of death [Revelation 13:4,15].

Except those who turn to Christ during that calamitous time, either willingly or BY FORCE, EVERYONE on earth will be a Satan and Antichrist worshiper (Revelation 13:4-8).

Many who get saved and refuse to worship them will die for their faith, and those who manage to survive will undergo EXTREME hardship (Revelation 20:4).

So-called "Christian" CULTS like Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and "Christian" Science will either worship Satan (they already do), or will have to GET SAVED (born again) by REALLY TURNING TO THE ONE TRUE GOD, JESUS CHRIST with ALL their hearts.

That they will get Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and New Agers to unite and form a single religion is COMPLETELY FALSE.

There's no inkling of that ANYWHERE in the Scriptures.

That the false prophet will unite ALL religions into A SINGLE ONE is also false and UNSCRIPTURAL.

C'mon, you can't even get SAVED people to unite, and you're gonna get THE UNSAVED to do so?

It'll never happen.

We can't even get Catholics and Episcopalians to reconcile, let alone bringing someone who believes in Allah in unity with someone who believes in Krishna, Buddha, or Maitreya.

But what about Mystery Babylon mentioned in Revelation chapters 17 & 18, isn't THAT a one-world religion?

No.

These two chapters refer VERY CLEARLY to Rome (Revelation 17:9, 18).

Rome did spread paganism throughout the world through political and, later, religious influence.

Rome did exile John to Patmos; shed the blood of many Christian martyrs, including Peter and Paul, not to mention carry out the Crucifixion of Christ.

Rome, consequently, WILL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED AND WIPED OFF THE MAP FOREVER.

And, yes, since it's located in Rome, these chapters INCLUDE the destruction of the Vatican and whatever is left of the Roman Catholic religion that does not go in the Rapture.

However, these chapters SAY NOTHING about ALL THE OTHER religions of the world coming together under the Roman umbrella: THAT is TOTAL fabrication.

As I've stated repeatedly, there won't be a single atheist, agnostic, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim or New Ager during the tribulation.

The ONLY religion allowed will be Satanism.

By the time Jesus' Second Coming takes place, ALL religion WILL HAVE CEASED to exist.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

DISTRESS OF NATIONS

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and ON THE EARTH DISTRESS OF NATIONS, WITH PERPLEXITY"... (Luke 21:25).

In Matthew 24:4-8 Jesus gave the signs of the "end of the age".

Critics have often dismissed those signs, saying that since the dawn of mankind there have been wars, earthquakes and famine.

The critics have a point. Or, do they?

They would, if Jesus had ONLY mentioned wars, famines and earthquakes.

But Jesus DIDN'T stop there. He warned EVEN THE DISCIPLES to watch out that "NO ONE deceived them".

Jesus warned OF GREAT RELIGIOUS DECEPTION not in some heathen god's name, but in His (Jesus' OWN) Name! (Matthew 24:4).

By people who say that He IS the Christ!

Clearly, that could only happen AFTER Jesus lived, died, rose and ascended.

But it gets MUCH MORE SPECIFIC than that:

While there have been "Christian" heretics and false preachers since the first century, like the infamous Gnostics, they were confined to very small sects that were marginalized by the Christian community at large.

Heretics were also severely limited in spreading their deception by lack of technology, means of mass communication and means of transportation.

They had no cars, buses, trains or airplanes.

They had no TV, internet, IPads, or IPhones. No videos, DVD's or CD'S.

They didn't even have CONVENTIONAL books since the PRINTING press was not even invented until 1439!

Therefore this WIDESPREAD DECEPTION by those who say that Jesus IS the Christ could only take place IN OUR TIME.

RELIGIOUS DECEPTION BY supposed "Christians" is OUT OF CONTROL on TV, cyberspace, YouTube, and other forms of MASS MEDIA.

Dear God... It's virtual pandemonium!

What's extremely difficult, almost impossible, is to find ANYTHING published about Jesus that is NOT deceptive.

Therefore Jesus' prediction COULD ONLY APPLY TO OUR TIME.

However, Jesus gave YET ANOTHER SIGN that PINS IT DOWN TO OUR GENERATION: He prophesied that "nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:4-8).

Was He referring to JUST ANY WAR?

Was He referring, perchance, to war between Russia and Sweden?

...Between India and Pakistan? ...Or between Chile and Argentina?

Or was He referring to the nations that comprised THE KNOWN WORLD of His day?

Clearly, AND IN BIBLICAL CONTEXT, the correct answer is: to the nations known in the first century A.D., namely the Middle East (parts of Europe, Africa and Asia).

Since the Roman Empire ruled ALL the then known world we could say that, IN CONTEXT, He was referring to wars within the nations and kingdoms inside the territory of the former Roman Empire.

And, since the end of 2010, WHERE are we seeing one war after another break out?

In the the map below you can clearly see that the nations where wars have erupted, governments have been toppled, and upheaval is ongoing even as we speak, are the portions of the world that were known in Jesus' day.

Moreover, He said these signs would ALL be taking place SIMULTANEOUSLY.

He also likened these signs to LABOR PAINS: they'd become STRONGER and MORE FREQUENT the closer we got to "the end".

Have there always been quakes, hunger and wars?

Yes.

Is there ANY OTHER PERIOD IN WORLD HISTORY where the Middle East and northern Africa have erupted IN ONE CIVIL WAR AFTER ANOTHER, and when RAMPANT, OUT OF CONTROL DECEPTION was taking place in Jesus' Name by supposed "Christians"?

NEVER!!!

Have these things EVER BEFORE happened SIMULTANEOUSLY, as Jesus predicted?

NEVER!!!

If you think nations are perplexed right now by terrorism, inner turmoil, staggering economies, incompetent leadership, not knowing which way to turn, with no solution and no way out to Iran acquiring nuclear power and expanding its influence in the Middle East, and brutal civil wars in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere, don't look for these situations to improve, but to steadily worsen.

When you add the "timelines" given in Luke 21:24-27 that says these things must happen WITHIN the generation that sees Jerusalem return to the Jews (1967) after two millenniums of uninterrupted gentile trampling...

And the timeline in Daniel 7:25 that says Jesus must return in "seven sevens" after the word to "return and build" biblical Jerusalem... (also 1967).

Jesus COULD ONLY BE referring to OUR TIME.

MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014

REWARDS AND CROWNS

Every once in a while someone will ask me about what "rewards" or "crowns" await us in heaven.

To be perfectly honest, that is a subject in which I'm not well versed.

You'd be better off asking some other minister who has studied the subject deeply.

I haven't.

I am familiar, of course, with the biblical text.

And I'm aware that it mentions rewards, prizes and crowns.

But I have never delved deeply into those topics.

The reason being: I DON'T HAVE TIME.

I'm too busy serving Jesus, ministering His Word, and too focused on Jesus Himself who, for me, IS THE ULTIMATE REWARD.

In all the years that I've served Him, these thoughts have never even ONCE crossed my mind:

"Gee, I wonder how big my mansion in heaven's going to be".

Or "I wonder WHAT REWARDS Jesus has in store for me".

Or, "I wonder HOW MANY CROWNS the Lord has for me, how big they are, what they look like, and how many diamonds and other precious stones they have".

But, frankly, ALL OF THAT, wonderful as it doubtlessly is, CANNOT REMOTELY COMPARE in my heart and mind with THE ULTIMATE PRIZE:

Christ Himself.

My heart is not set on gates of pearl, but on THE PEARL.

WHAT -- in heaven, earth, or anywhere else -- COULD BE GREATER than Jesus?

WHAT could be MORE ENJOYABLE?

WHO or WHAT could be MORE BEAUTIFUL?

WHO can be MORE THRILLING?

WHO or WHAT can fill our hearts and satisfy its deepest longings LIKE JESUS?

WHO or WHAT can manifest God's Divine Love like Jesus?

I'm sure whatever He has in store for His children is inordinately beautiful, but I want the Beautiful One Himself.

And won't settle for ANYTHING LESS.

Doubtlessly, there are many lovely things in His Kingdom.

But MY HEART AND MIND are after THE KING.

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014

IRAQ: WHAT'S GOING ON ?

Just when you thought things might be settling down a bit in Iraq, this ultra-barbaric terrorist group (in the Middle East there are varying degrees of barbarism) that calls itself ISIS comes seemingly out of nowhere and sweeps through most of the northern Sunni portion of that nation and heads toward Baghdad, where the ineffective government of Nuri Al Malaki seems unwilling, or unable to stop them, OR BOTH.

The almost comical part in all this is that Iran's President Rouhani has been so emboldened by America's and the EU's weak stance toward goings-on in Syria and Ukraine -- not to mention their inability to prevent his own nation's nuclear development -- as to suggest JOINING FORCES WITH THE U.S. to defend the Shi'a southern portion of Iraq from ISIS' impending advance.

This brings to mind a common saying in the Middle East: "the enemy OF MY ENEMY is my "friend".

It would be hilarious if it weren't for the fact that so many of our brave men and women fought to liberate that heathen nation, sacrificing life and limb...and FOR WHAT?

Seems we're going back to square one:

The ONLY form of government Islamic nations seem to understand is RUTHLESS, IRON FIST DICTATORSHIP.

Just look at what's happened in Egypt, Iraq and Libya since Mubarak, Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi were ousted.

So much for experimenting with "democracy" among brutal beasts.

What's going on in this troubled region, where Arabs seem intent on killing one another (even their fellow Muslims)?

Answer: Daniel chapter 8:

"I watched the ram (Iran) as it charged TOWARD THE WEST AND THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH. NO ANIMAL COULD STAND AGAINST IT, AND NONE COULD RESCUE FROM ITS POWER. It DID AS IT PLEASED and became great" (Daniel 8:4).

What lies to the north of Iran is Turkmenistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan: what lies to the west and south is Iraq.

This chapter makes it clear that Iran will be unstoppable at the time of the end:

That is, until the Antichrist once again conquers Iran (ancient Persia) and BRINGS THEIR AMBITIONS and dreams of a Shi'a Islamic super state TO AN END.

This chapter is usually dismissed by the prophecy establishment as "having been fulfilled" in the distant past and, therefore, irrelevant to our time.

While there's no denying that it had PARTIAL fulfillment when Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, verse 17 plainly says this vision "concerns THE TIME OF THE END".

Newsflash to all prophecy gurus: "the time of the end" WAS NOT 2,300 years ago.

The time of the end IS NOW.

Verse 19, AGAIN says: "I am going to tell you what will happen later IN THE TIME OF WRATH, because THE VISION CONCERNS THE APPOINTED TIME OF THE END".

How much clearer can you say it than THAT?

But wait, God's not through yet:

In verse 26 He says FOR THE THIRD TIME "seal up the vision, for it concerns THE DISTANT FUTURE."

Which part of "the DISTANT future" or "the TIME OF THE END" don't these guys understand?

Wake up, slumbering Christians! The main fulfillment of that prophecy was intended FOR OUR TIME.

So, what are you saying that Iran will conquer Iraq?

No, that's what God says:He said THREE TIMES that the vision, where Daniel sees Iran (the ram) CHARGING TOWARD the west and south (Iraq) and the north, that no nation could withstand it, and that it would do as it pleased, concerned THE TIME OF THE END.

The interpretation of the vision is given in verses 21-25:

"The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia (Iran). The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king...

In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, A FIERCE-LOOKING KING, A MASTER OF INTRIGUE WILL ARISE. He will become very strong, but not by his own power... He will destroy THOSE WHO ARE MIGHTY, THE HOLY PEOPLE... When they feel secure, HE WILL DESTROY MANY AND TAKE HIS STAND AGAINST the Prince of princes. Yet HE WILL BE DESTROYED, BUT NOT BY HUMAN POWER (Daniel 8:21-25).

I'm not saying that Iran will take over Iraq tomorrow, but over the next year or two.

There will be continued strife and instability in the region. Iraq may split into two or three sections (Kurds to the extreme north, then Sunnis, the Shia's in the south) and sometime around the start of the tribulation, when the U.S. has been devastated and is no longer a deterrent, opportunistic Iran will seize the entire territory.

Just as it happened in ancient history, Alexander (despite being greatly outnumbered back then) will conquer Iran, and Iraq (ancient Babylon) will fall submissively into his hands.

"Oh, Martel, that's crazy: those hardened Islamic terrorists will never submit to anyone".

They WILL SUBMIT when they see the greatest general and tactician in history RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

They'll be thoroughly convinced that he is not only invincible, but IMMORTAL.

He is as ruthless as the cruelest of terrorists.

Not to mention that THEIR OWN KORAN tells them that the "two horned one" or Dhul Karnayim, as Alexander is known in Islamic tradition, has been GIVEN DOMINION OVER ALL THE EARTH by NO LESS THAN Allah himself (Surah 18:83-99).

The very name of their religion "Islam" MEANS "SUBMISSION".

Alexander will TERRORIZE the TERRORISTS and even manage to build Satan an altar near the ancient Babylonian ruins (Zechariah 5:11).

How reliable is the Word of God?

TOTALLY!!!

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014

DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK

The "70 weeks" prophecy is one of the most important, and one of the most misunderstood, prophecies in the Bible.

For starters, the term "Daniel's 70th week" is misused to refer to the future period of tribulation.

While there is a 70th week (thank God), HALF of it is already in our past.

In other words, 69½ weeks of this prophecy have already been fulfilled, leaving ONLY half a week (3½ years) remaining.

Those 3½ years are the TRIBULATION and future reign of Antichrist, which end with the Second Coming of Christ (Daniel 7:25; 12:9; Revelation 13:5).

Jesus (Messiah Prince) is the main subject of the "70 weeks" prophecy.

How the heck prophecy gurus managed to get the Antichrist into that chapter is hard to comprehend.

The Antichrist is mentioned in Daniel chapters 7, 8, and 11, but NOT IN CHAPTER 9.

No wonder Jesus said He'd appear in an hour that most of his followers "think not". They got everyone expecting an INVENTED "7-year peace treaty" to start off the tribulation.

On the one hand they say that NO SIGNS precede the Rapture. On the other they say that a 7-year peace treaty is A MUST to begin the tribulation. Wouldn't such treaty be a sign?

Daniel 9:25 is clear that the first 69 weeks would lead to the FIRST appearance of Messiah Prince.

Daniel 9:26 is clear that it's only AFTER the 7 PLUS 62-WEEKS which total 69 weeks that Messiah Prince would die.

If His death took place AFTER the 69 weeks, then His death HAD TO HAPPEN sometime during the 70th week.

... Since the ONLY THING that comes AFTER the 69th week IS the 70 week.

There's NO OTHER POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE.

Daniel 9;27 is even more specific saying that he (Messiah Prince) will CONFIRM or STRENGTHEN THE COVENANT (meaning the Abrahamic covenant) "in the middle of the week", that is IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 70TH WEEK, causing sacrifice and oblation TO CEASE.

The word translated as "cease" is the Hebrew Shabbator Sabbath. Messiah would bring REST to sacrifices and libations.

Ask any Jew what happened to their sacrifices prescribed under Torah and -- while they won't credit Jesus for it -- they'll tell you they HAVEN'T BEEN OFFERED FOR THE PAST 2,000 YEARS.

Antichrist brings NO REST to anything, he will TAKE AWAY the daily offerings from the third temple.

By saying it THAT WAY, Gabriel cleverly and covertly gave us, in a single equation, the timing of BOTH, the FIRST and SECOND comings of Messiah Prince.

Had they pointed ONLY to Jesus' First Coming, then no division was necessary. He would have simply said "shall be 69 weeks".

Unless, of course, we think Jesus came ONLY ONCE, and will never return.

Fact is, the 70th week MUST (absolutely MUST) END WITH Jesus' Second Coming.

Therefore, the division in the 69 weeks could ONLY refer to the timing of BOTH.

Jesus told Daniel such things would remain sealed (would not be understood) UNTIL the "time of the end".

We ARE in the "time of the end".

Therefore -- praise His Name -- these things ARE NOW BEING REVEALED.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014

PROPHECY Q & A

I thought I'd share some of the questions pertaining to Bible prophecy that have come in recently, and their answers:

1. Although John sees the beast AS A LEOPARD, why does he have the feet of a bear and mouth of a lion?

These are direct references to the beasts described in Daniel chapter 7.

Even though the Antichrist is the former king of Greece (Alexander, the leopard), the other three beasts will be connected to his 42-month reign, and will play significant roles.

This is explained in Daniel 7:12 that says:

"As concerning THE REST OF THE BEASTS, THEY HAD THEIR DOMINION TAKEN AWAY: YET THEIR LIVES WERE PROLONGED FOR A SEASON AND TIME".

We see, in fact, that Alex's 42-month reign will be connected not only with Iran and Iraq, but with Rome (the 4th beast in Daniel 7), since he, like the former Roman Empire, has "10 horns", and Revelation 17:3 says he carries Rome (the harlot) for a while but destroys her toward the end of the tribulation (Revelation 17:16-18).

Daniel 8:7, 19-26 says Alexander will trample the Persians (Iran) YET AGAIN at "the time of the end". Hence the "bear" is at his feet.

He will swallow up Babylon (hence the lion at his mouth, Daniel 11:43).

And his kingdom will consist of 10 kings from the territories of the former Roman Empire (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 17:12-14) hence the 10 horns.

2. Has Isaiah 17 which predicts the destruction of Damascus ever been fulfilled?

No. It's being fulfilled right before our eyes. Syria's civil war has decimated large parts of Damascus, since brutal Assad is known to bombard entire sections of the city indiscriminately.

Whatever may be left of Damascus by the end of the tribulation, the earthquake described in Revelation 16:18-19 will finish the job, as it will turn all major cities into rubble, which is what Isaiah 17 predicts will be Damascus' fate.

3. Doesn't Daniel 11:37 indicate the Antichrist will be Jewish?

No. In context, the phrase elohe avotav means "the gods of his ancestors", REFERRING TO MULTIPLE "gods". That's why the same verse says he magnifies himself "above all". If it meant the God of Israel who is ONE, it would say that he magnified himself "above Him", NOT "above ALL".

2 Thessalonians 2:4 says the same thing:"Who opposes and exalts himself above ALL THAT IS CALLED "God", or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God".

4. Why would Satan and demons harm the unsaved (who, presumably, are on his side) when the pit is opened in Revelation 9:1?

Satan's not in charge here, God is.

Satan is only allowed to open the pit so he can eventually bring Antichrist out of it (Revelation 11:7; 17:8).

It's the demons that are allowed BY GOD to sting and torment ONLY the unsaved for 5 months.

This is God's judgment under the 5th trumpet and first woe.

Demons hate ALL HUMANS for the simple reason that God gave humans the earth they once inhabited (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 115:16).

They also hate humans because we're made in the Image of God and they aren't.

Even unsaved humans have THE POTENTIAL to get saved during the tribulation. Demons are damned forever.

5. I'm confused. You say Jesus locked up most demons into the pit, yet I read in Ephesians 6:12 that fallen angels are in heavenly places.

These are TWO DIFFERENT types of beings.

Fallen angels rebelled with Satan and are in heavenly places because of man's sin (they presently occupy the place that rightfully belongs TO US).

Demons aren't angels. They were humanoid beings that inhabited the earth PRIOR TO the Adamic (human) race.

They perished in the first flood. That's why the earth in Genesis 1:2, 6-10 is COVERED IN WATER.

Noah's flood was the second flood. That's why God promised He'd never again destroy the earth with a flood, 'cause He'd already done it TWICE (Genesis 9:11).

Their disembodied spirits sought to possess humans so they could manifest again on the earth (Luke 8:30).

The Bible tells us that, after His physical Resurrection He ascended to heaven and sat on God's Throne at the Father's Right Hand (Acts 2:33; Hebrews 1:3).

Acts 3:21 tells us that heaven must receive Him "until the times of restoration of all things".

But have you ever THOUGHT ABOUT what He's been doing ALL THIS TIME?

Interceding FOR US!

That's right: The one and only Savior has been INTERCEDING for you and me for TWO MILLENNIUMS!!!

Glory to Him forever!

He's interceding for us RIGHT NOW!

There's NO HIGHER CALLING than being like Jesus.

And since the heavens must hold Him for a little while longer, there's NO HIGHER CALLING than BEING Jesus on this earth.

That's what God and I WANT YOU TO BE.

We're looking for INTERCESSORS.

We are looking for born-again individuals - we don't care from WHICH denomination, or non-denominational -- to share Jesus or intercede for (PICK ONLY ONE):

1. Israel 2. The unsaved 3. Bring ONE unsaved person to Christ.

We are asking participants to devote 15 MINUTES A DAY to ONE of these three goals and, during that time, GIVE IT "ALL THEY GOT".

We don't want some anemic, lethargic prayer. We want you to FOCUS during those 15 minutes on your goal and PRAY FERVENTLY.

Then you can go back to being anemic... if you can.

You DON'T NEED TO write and tell us who you are. Jesus KNOWS who you are. We just need your SINGLE MINDED determination and intercession.

I don't care what denomination you may be part of, I don't even care if you don't like me or this ministry. I don't care if you disagree with most or all of our teachings.

Bringing unsaved souls to intimate knowledge of Christ is THE ONE THING on which ALL Christians, regardless of denomination, can TOTALLY agree.

If you KNOW Christ, we want you to intercede for Israel, the unsaved, or devote yourself to bringing JUST ONE soul to Christ in the LITTLE time we have left.

We are living AT A CRUCIAL TIME in human history.

Our time left on this earth is VERY, VERY SHORT.

The time to act is NOW.

This world will experience DRAMATIC and CATACLYSMIC change in the next couple of years.

It WON'T LOOK LIKE, or be ANYTHING LIKE, our world today.

Whatever we do for Jesus, WE MUST DO NOW.

All of you who have written me through the years voicing concern for those who'll be left on earth during the tribulation, THIS is your golden opportunity to turn that concern into POSITIVE action and make it count for God's Kingdom.

If you're Roman Catholic, I humbly ask you to pick one of the three options above, plus intercede IN SPIRIT for protestants and evangelicals.

If you're evangelical, pick one of the three and please also intercede IN SPIRIT for Roman Catholics.

I said INTERCEDE "FOR" them, NOT against them.

Those who truly know the Lord are ONE in Spirit, REGARDLESS of human denomination.

Call me crazy or naive, but I still believe that SPIRITUAL UNITY we all share INSIDE will become VISIBLE and EVIDENT ON THE OUTSIDE BEFORE we leave this earth realm.

Not in terms of ONE GIANT denomination, but IN SPITE OF man-invented denominational barriers.

There's no way YOU CAN ACT LIKE JESUS AND INTERCEDE for others, or share Christ with them, WITHOUT being RICHLY blessed yourself in the process.

By God's Grace, I will be JOINING ALL OF YOU IN SPIRIT for at least 45 minutes each day (15 minutes with each of the three groups).

We will have a special link for "INTERCESSORS" ON THE TOP LEFT of this page. I may share information, special instructions, or make special requests from time to time, as the Spirit leads.

Well, you said this would be "prophecy week", WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH PROPHECY?

Read Revelation 8:1-5.

Once we're in heaven with Jesus WE WILL BE INTERCEDING for those left on the earth. And OUR INTERCESSORY PRAYERS WILL BE OFFERED before God's Throne BEFORE tribulation judgments begin.

We might as well START NOW (there's no "time" or distance in the spirit realm).

Those who DON'T KNOW Jesus presently VERY MUCH NEED our prayers, and those who get left behind WILL NEED them even more.

Despite judgments, Satan, Antichrist, the false prophet, and all the calamities, there will be a large harvest of souls that will turn to Jesus EVEN DURING THE TRIBULATION (Revelation 14:15-16; 15:2; 20:4).

Plus there will be hundreds of thousands, or millions, who call on Jesus IN THE FINAL MOMENTS OF THIS CHURCH AGE and be raptured.

The tribulation will begin, and Jesus will appear, sooner than most people realize.

Oh, Jesus, most precious Savior, one and only God, please bring UNITY TO YOUR BODY!

Please let us BE ONE not only in Spirit, but of ONE MIND:

Let us be ONE not only inside, but OUTSIDE that, as it was in that Upper Room that Pentecost on which your Church was born, BEFORE there were ANY denominations, MANY MORE MEMBERS will be added to your UNIVERSAL Church daily.

I ask it for your eternal glory. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

WHO IS ABADDON?

Abaddon, as he is known in Hebrew, or Apollyon, in Greek, meaning "the Destroyer" seems to capture the attention, and IMAGINATION, of many Christians.

Entire books and eschatological scenarios have been fabricated around THIS BEING mentioned ONLY in Revelation 9:11.

Even in the 19th century, some wanted to make Napoleon Bonaparte the Antichrist based on the similarity between the names "Napoleon" and "Apollyon".

Although Apollyon is mentioned ONLY ONCE in the New Testament, the name Abaddon is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, always referring TO A PLACE, not a being (Job 26:6; 28:22; 31:12; Psalm 88:11; Proverbs 15:11).

A place of DESTRUCTION AND RUIN.

According to Proverbs 5:11, Abaddon is different from Sheol.

And according to that same verse and others, Sheol and Abaddon were both OPEN in the Old Testament.

When Jesus died, rose from the death and triumphantly ASCENDED into heaven, He told us NOT ONLY that "He lives FOREVERMORE" BUT THAT HE NOW HAS THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES (Revelation 1:18).

Since the abyss or bottomless pit is a portion of Hades, Jesus used those keys TO LOCK THESE DEMONS UP in the pit.

That's why demonic activity which was frequent and commonplace up to His time, has become virtually non-existent after He rose from the dead, LOCKED UP ALL DEMONS IN the Abyss, and ascended to heaven.

That's why the abyss or bottomless pit MUST BE OPENED in Revelation 9:1 because Christ SHUT IT, and it's FROM THERE that Antichrist will eventually EMERGE.

Revelation 9:11 tells us unequivocally that Abaddon or Apollyon is "THE ANGEL OF the abyss" (or "bottomless pit").

It also tells us he is "king" over the demonic creatures that come out of the abyss (bottomless pit) when the pit is opened in Revelation 9:1.

Apollyon/Abbadon is, therefore, an ANGELIC being, apparently named in Hebrew AFTER THE PLACE in which he is king.

The abyss is the portion of Hades located in the lowest parts of sea, where there is a sudden drop or chasm, and is the abode of demons and some of the damned(Luke 8:31).

That's where Alexander the Antichrist presently is, and from where Satan will bring him out (Revelation 13:1; 11:7; 17:8).

The scriptural sequence is:

1. The fifth trumpet is blown.

2. A star FALLS from heaven to earth, and is GIVEN the key to the abyss or bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1).

That FALLEN "star" is Satan (compare to Isaiah 14:12 and Revelation 12:9).

5. Sometime AFTER Satan has opened the pit and let these creatures out to sting the unsaved, he BRINGS Alexander (Antichrist) ALSO OUT OF THE PIT (Revelation 11:7; 17:8).

6. In Revelation 20:1-3, AFTER the tribulation has ended and Jesus has returned, we have ANOTHER angel that COMES DOWN (he does NOT "fall") from heaven, puts Satan in chains, throws him into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years, and SHUTS THE PIT BACK UP.

The creep will get a taste of his own medicine when he is IMPRISONED in the pit for A THOUSAND YEARS, just like he kept millions imprisoned in Sheol until Jesus died, rose, SET THEM FREE, AND TOOK THEM TO HEAVEN WITH HIM.

Let's recap:

The fallen star in Revelation 9:1 is Satan.

He OPENS the pit to allow demons to come out on the earth and inflict terrible pain to the unsaved.

A bit later, he also brings Antichrist out of the OPEN pit (Revelation 13:1).

Satan is NOT Apollyon, and Apollyon is NOT Satan, or the fallen star.

Apollyon does not open the pit, or let the demons out.

Apollyon HAS BEEN IN THE PIT HIMSELF FOR A LONG, LONG TIME WITH ALL THE DEMONS. That's how he got to be their king.

Nor is Apollyon the Antichrist as some misguided Christians would have us believe.

Revelation 9:11 clearly calls him "THE ANGEL of the Abyss".

The Antichrist IS NOT AN ANGEL.

The Antichrist is A MAN (Revelation 13:18, 17:10; 1 John 2:18).

The Antichrist MUST be a man, because in order to rule the earth you gotta be human.

God gave man dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 115:16).

God NEVER GAVE such dominion to an angel.

If angels could rule the earth then Satan himself would rule the planet those 3½ years of tribulation, and he would not NEED TO BRING Antichrist (a man) out of the pit to reign FOR him:

Abaddon is Abaddon. Satan is Satan. Antichrist is Antichrist.

They are THREE DIFFERENT BEINGS, WITH THREE DIFFERENT ROLES in the coming tribulation.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2014

THE 7TH TRUMPET

The TRIBULATION BEGINS when the 6TH SEAL is opened (Revelation 6:12).

Tribulation JUDGMENTS BEGIN when the 7TH SEAL is opened (Revelation 8:1-3).

The JUDGMENTS consist of a series of 7 trumpets.

THE FIRST 6 TRUMPETS bring mind-boggling UNPRECEDENTED catastrophe. They will devastate the earth and destroy MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF ITS unraptured POPULATION.

The 7th trumpet signals THE END of the tribulation, the return (Second Coming) of Christ, and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth known as the Millennium.

THREE AND A HALF YEARS will transpire from the opening of the 6th seal (beginning) to the 7th trumpet (end) of the tribulation.

In between those two events there will be 6 trumpets, three woes and 6 bowls OF JUDGMENT.

We're talking about economic collapse, nuclear war, one third of the earth's surface (and whoever is on it) being burned to a crisp, and a sudden and dramatic change in geography and topography worldwide.

The city and country in which you live will not be at the same location.

We're talking about the biggest quake in history that will turn all world capitals, and major metropolitan areas on earth into piles of rubble.

We're talking weird, paranormal stuff like millions of demons coming out of the abyss STINGING and tormenting unsaved humans for 5 months.

We're talking about OBLIGATORY worship of Satan and Antichrist, under penalty of death.

We're talking about A STATUE of Antichrist that will be able to move, speak, and sentence to death those who refuse to worship it (Revelation 13:14-15).

We're talking about a system where people won't be able to buy even the most basic necessities UNLESS they take the Antichrist's mark in their right hands or foreheads (Revelation 13:16-18).

Those who take the mark may live to see another day on earth, but will be IRREVERSIBLY damned for all eternity (Revelation 14:9-11).

Those who are unsaved, those who persist in hardening their hearts against Jesus, will experience (suffer) these horrific judgments FIRSTHAND.

Jesus (glory to His Name!) has made provision for you to be translated safely into His Presence in a glorious, immortal body JUST PRIOR TO these events.

But He won't take you to heaven AGAINST YOUR WILL:

Heaven or tribulation, rewards or judgments, Christ or Antichrist.

It's YOUR CALL.

MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

THE LAST TRUMP

"Behold, I show you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but WE WILL ALL BE CHANGED, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET; FOR THE TRUMPET WILL SOUND, and THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE WILL BE CHANGED" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Does this passage refer to the Rapture?

YES.

Since we're told unequivocally that it happens at "the last trump", the million dollar question is: what did Paul mean by the term "the last trump"?

Hint: he WASN'T referring to the 7th trumpet in the Book of Revelation, which ENDS the tribulation, anymore than he was referring to Donald...

This verse clearly says that we are TRANSFORMED at the last trump.

Our TRANSFORMATION in the Book of Revelation takes place under the 6th seal, as the tribulation BEGINS.

We are transformed BEFORE EVEN THE FIRST of the 7 TRUMPETS has been blown (Revelation 7:9-16).

Therefore, there's NO WAY in heaven, hell or earth that the last trump can be the same as the 7th trumpet in Revelation.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 gives us one very important ADDITIONAL detail about this last trump that is blown triggering our transformation: It is THE TRUMPET of God.

It is the shofar (ram's or Lamb's horn) of Jesus the Almighty.

If the Rapture happens at "the LAST trump" that means there MUST HAVE BEEN A "FIRST trump".

Otherwise, the term "last" would be unnecessary and meaningless.

Therefore, in order to get our answer, we must determine WHEN the FIRST trump was blown.

According to Exodus chapter 19 THE FIRST TRUMPET was blown on the Day of Pentecost on or about 1,500 B.C.

That's when God Himself descended on Mount Sinai, met with Moses Face to face, gave him and the Israelites the Law, and even dined with some of their leaders up on the mountain.

Verses 16-20 of that chapter give the dramatic description of this awesome event:

"So it came about on the third day... that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain AND A VERY LOUD TRUMPET SOUND, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Now Mount Sinai was covered in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN QUAKED VIOLENTLY. When THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET GREW LOUDER AND LOUDER, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses WENT UP".

Paul alludes to this event in Hebrews 12:18-25:

"For YOU ARE NOT COME unto the mount... that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

And THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard begged that the word should not be spoken to them any more...

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:

But YOU ARE COME TO mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

And to Jesus THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, AND TO THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING, that speaks better things than that of Abel.

See that you REFUSE NOT HIM THAT SPEAKS. FOR IF THEY ESCAPED NOT WHO REFUSED HIM THAT SPOKE ON EARTH, MUCH MORE SHALL WE NOT ESCAPE, IF WE TURN AWAY FROM HIM THAT SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN".

It was at Sinai that God first called out a people (the Israelites) unto Himself.

New Testament believers become SPIRITUAL JEWS and part of the Commonwealth of Israel through faith (complete trust in) Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah (Romans 2:28-29;Ephesians 2:12-12).

Natural Israelites were called to Sinai at the FIRST trump.

Spiritual Israelites are called to HEAVENLY JERUSALEM at the LAST trump.

God's calendar given to Israel BEGINS in Aviv (Nisan) and ENDS in Adar (Exodus 12:2).

If the FIRST trumpet took place on Pentecost, in the third month (Sivan) the LAST trumpet MUST take place BEFORE THEN.

Mmmm... Mmmm... Mmmm...

SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014

WE'RE ALL CATHOLIC

OMG ! Did you REALLY say that?

Yep.

I'm sorry if you fell off your chair, or dropped your coffee cup, but as I always say "a free conscience IS WORTH a sore butt".

2. EVERY born-again child of God - REGARDLESS of man-invented denomination or LACK THEREOF - is a member (NECESSARY PART OF) Jesus' UNIVERSAL (hence, CATHOLIC) Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

3. There are many Roman Catholics who are PART OF His UNIVERSAL Catholic Church, and there are many non-Roman Catholics (protestants, evangelicals) who are ALSO part.

Even the ROMAN Catholic denomination recognized this Truth at the Second Vatican Council which took place from 1962-1965 calling it the "mystery of the Church" and acknowledging (after 5 centuries of vigorous and often bellicose and cruel dissent) that there were Christians of OTHER denominations who, though NOT Roman, were also part of Jesus' UNIVERSAL (Catholic) Church.

Hence, the Church is ONE and it is Catholic (UNIVERSAL).

What it is NOT is EXCLUSIVELY Roman.

Repeat: Jesus' Church is ONE, and it is CATHOLIC (universal), comprised of MANY DIFFERENT members who do not always see eye-to-eye on various NON-ESSENTIAL doctrines.

What His Church is NOT is "ONLY Roman", to the exclusion of everyone else.

And even the RCC (finally!) recognized this Truth in the early to mid-60's for which they deserve credit.

Better LATE than NEVER.

4. Hence, all true believers are CATHOLIC and part of His UNIVERSAL (CATHOLIC) Church.

However, not all of us are ROMAN.

Many of us AREN'T Roman.

That does not mean we cannot fellowship with Roman brothers and sisters, or that many of them are NOT our true brothers and sisters in the faith.

That is why, despite much criticism from the evangelical community, I've never forgotten the Roman Catholics I grew up with.

That is why I try to INCLUDE them in everything we do or teach.

They were the first to teach me about Jesus, His death and Resurrection.

Had they also told me about the ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL NEED to receive Christ INTO MY HEART IN ORDER TO BE SAVED -- not just in that Host during Mass or Communion -- who knows? I might still be Roman.

I hereby remind my Evangelical brethren that EVERY REFORMER raised by God in the 15th and 16th century (and there were some attempts at reform even earlier than that) WAS Roman Catholic UNTIL religious hierarchy decided they WEREN'T, and proceeded to excommunicate them.

Wycliffe was Catholic, John Hus was Catholic, so were Luther and Tyndale.

So please spare me the insulting, bigoted, God-limiting, narrow-minded notion that "it's impossible" for a Roman Catholic to PERSONALLY KNOW JESUS, EXPERIENCE JESUS IN THEIR INNERMOST BEING, and BE SAVED.

There's NOTHING in Scripture or Church history to validate that ridiculous claim.

I MYSELF came to know Jesus and BECAME BORN-AGAIN, through the preaching of three different Baptists, while STILL VERY MUCH CONSIDERING MYSELF Roman Catholic.

With God ALL THINGS are possible (Mark 10:27).

Please DO NOT criticize the Roman denomination for arbitrarily EXCLUDING ALL OF US 500 years ago, WHILE you DO THE SAME THING TO THEM 500 years later, after they've finally accepted us.

That is absurd, hypocritical DOUBLE-STANDARD.

It's JUST AS WRONG WHEN WE DO IT to them, as it was WHEN THEY DID IT to us.

Have we learned nothing in 500 years?

Was all the blood of so many Christian martyrs shed for naught?

Fact is, ALL TRUE Christians have been born again of the same Spirit and are, therefore, ONE SPIRIT with Christ and with EACH OTHER (Romans 8:9).

Whether we THINK we are or not.

Whether we FEEL we are or not.

Whether we DOCTRINALLY agree or not.

And I promise that New Jerusalem is NOT DIVIDED into a "Roman" section and a "Protestant" section.

Salvation ALWAYS, without exception - for Jew or gentile, for Roman Catholic, Protestant or Evangelical -TAKES PLACE ON THE INSIDE.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL who has experienced the New Birth from above, IN WHOSE HEART Jesus lives by His Holy Spirit, is A TRUE CHRISTIAN, and MEMBER OF JESUS' UNIVERSAL (hence, CATHOLIC) Church.

What Christian group they choose to join, or whatever else they may choose to call themselves after receiving Christ, IS UP TO THEM.

Jesus knows His sheep. His sheep know Him and recognize His Voice (John 10:27).

And He is more than capable of separating wheat from chaff at harvest time.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014

WHAT JAMES DIDN'T SAY

"For as the body WITHOUT THE SPIRIT is dead, so faith WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD" (JAMES 2:26).

Engage in dialogue with any heretic and THE FIRST THING he will say, like a lobotomized parrot from hell, is "faith without works is dead, faith without works is dead, faith without works is dead".

James, in fact, says that in several verses of his epistle's second chapter.

Here's what James DIDN'T SAY:

"Faith without works DOESN'T SAVE".

James DIDN'T SAY THAT.

James COULDN'T say that.

Why? Because faith WITHOUT WORKS DOES SAVE!

Peter said it saves (Acts 15:11), John said it saves (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12), and Paul said it, clear as crystal, in verse after verse after verse, including Romans 3:28:

"...we conclude that A MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH WITHOUT the works of the law".

James was Jesus' half brother. In Acts 15:13-20 he concurs with Peter that Salvation is by grace through faith.

James himself had been saved BY FAITH ONLY, WITHOUT ANY WORKS, since he at one point DID NOT BELIEVE IN Jesus (John 7:5).

JESUS HIMSELF said time and again that Salvation is BY FAITH IN HIM ONLY (Matthew 11:28; 12:32; Mark 16:16; Luke 7:48-50; John 3:16-17; 5:24; 6:37, 40).

So, did James contradict himself?

No. In chapter 2, verses 14-26 of his epistle James was NOT talking about SOUL SALVATION.

Repeat: James was NOT TALKING ABOUT SALVATION OF ONE'S SOUL in verses 14-26 of James chapter two.

There was famine and dire need in Jerusalem as the Church was being severely persecuted by both, Roman and Jewish authorities. He was talking about SAVING Christian brothers and sisters FROM DYING OF STARVATION.

He was saying that while OUR SOUL is saved BY FAITH ONLY, others CAN'T SEE our faith.

They can, however, SEE our actions.

If you DON'T DEMONSTRATE (SHOW) THE FAITH YOU HAVE WITH practical actions (sending money, food, clothing to help the poor) YOUR FAITH ALONE is as good as a dead body, because it WON'T SAVE your starving brothers FROM PHYSICAL DEATH.

Well, what about verse 24 which says "YOU SEE that a man has been made righteous by works and not by faith alone"?

Same thing: We ARE SAVED BY FAITH ONLY, but Faith is INVISIBLE to human eyes.

Works (actions), on the other hand, ARE VISIBLE.

The ONLY WAY OTHERS CAN SEE the SAVING FAITH we have is through our actions. That was James' ONLY point.

He DID NOT SAY that Salvation DEPENDED ON WORKS. You can't find ONE verse in James that makes such statement.

Had he made such absurd declaration, he would have contradicted ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES, he would have contradicted Jesus, and CONTRADICTED HIMSELF!!!

He would have been booted from the Early Church and declared a heretic.

He merely stated that the faith that ALONE SAVES US is INVISIBLE. Our Salvation is also INVISIBLE.

When we are IN Christ, our Lord's PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS is CREDITED TO US FREELY (2 Corinthians 5:21).

NO ONE can lay any charge against a born-again child of God (Romans 8:33).

There is now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are IN Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

That's why believers in Christ should be the FREEST, most FEARLESS people on the planet.

God is ON OUR SIDE.

He's NOT against us. He's FOR US.

And if God be FOR US, WHO can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32).

That's why you SHOULD RUN into Jesus' open, loving, forgiving, welcoming arms... RIGHT NOW.

Mortal, sinful men may find fault.

Religion may find fault.

But if you're in Christ GOD SAYS YOU'RE FAULTLESS.

God says you're as RIGHTEOUS as Jesus Himself.

And I got news for all the "accusers"...

God ALWAYS has the FINAL WORD.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

GOD'S NOT A MAGICIAN

One thing that bothers the heck out of me is prayer requests where an individual washes his or her hands OF ANY AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY:

Let's JUST THROW EVERYTHING ON GOD'S BACK:

I'll just write Christ connection, Martel will say a magical prayer for me, or my business, or my job, or my marriage, and make all the bad stuff go away.

NOT HAPPENING, Bubba!

God's not a magician and neither am I.

We will take LEGITIMATE prayer requests: if someone's life or health is involved, or some financial or legal trouble, etc.

HOWEVER, we expect the person requesting the prayer TO ALSO BECOME TOTALLY INVOLVED.

We also expect THEM to FOLLOW (APPLY) THE SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL ADVICE we give them. Otherwise, it's A TOTAL WASTE of time and energy.

That's why Jesus didn't make us programmed robots, but FREE WILL AGENTS CAPABLE OF MAKING OUR OWN CHOICES.

Don't give me this crap about "this is how I am", like you're HELPLESS to do anything about it!

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO OR SAY CERTAIN THINGS ON PURPOSE.

You want us to pray you'll get that job, great.

We will pray. However, you have to be on time for the appointment, look your best, make a good impression, think AHEAD about how you will comport yourself during the interview, what you'll say when you're asked certain things, how you'll "sell yourself" to your prospective employer, etc.

If your attitude, from the start is "what's in it FOR ME", or "I just need a paycheck", CHANCES ARE YOU WON'T GET IT.

If, on the other hand, it is more like "HOW can I help you? I'll work hard, I'm interested in what you do here, I'll give 100% and will always endeavor to improve YOUR business and make it more efficient and profitable" you'll have A MUCH, MUCH better chance.

Employers can detect these things. So can those in human resources.

You have to PREPARE.

You want us to pray for your son or daughter who serves in the military: Fine. We will gladly do so. However, God expects YOU to also cover him or her with the Blood of Jesus every single day and INVOKE HIS CONTINUED PROTECTION OVER THEM.

Same goes for school children.

You want help with your marriage, sure. We will pray. BUT ALL THE PRAYER IN THE WORLD WILL BE IN VAIN, UNLESS you get ACTIVELY involved.

If THE MOMENT your husband gets home from work and opens the door, YOU HIT HIM with 5 different problems (the dishwasher's broken, Johnny got called into the principal's office today, we're out of bread, the bedroom window is stuck and, by the way, mother's coming to spend the weekend) don't expect a happy marriage, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I pray.

The poor guy just arrived after a long, hard day at work. Give him a chance to catch his breath!

Let him get comfortable... sit down, relax, turn on the TV, wind down a bit, put his feet up, have a beer (or whatever), let at least 30 minutes go by, and THEN... PRIORITIZE and talk to him, ONE problem at a time, beginning with the most important.

If you're wearing that old, ugly bathrobe, you haven't even showered, your face and hair are a mess, and on top of that you greet him with "thank God you're home! I'VE had a lousy day", WHAT DO YOU EXPECT God or me to do?

Men are VERY PHYSICAL and VISUAL beings.

Looking and smelling good will go A LONG WAY toward improving your marriage.

Not to mention YOUR OWN SELF-ESTEEM...

If you know he goes gaga over, say, red nail polish... gee whiz, will it kill you to paint your fingernails red once in a while?

As far as men are concerned, I can sum up my advice for a happy marriage in ONE WORD:

"COMPLIMENT"...

COMPLIMENT, COMPLIMENT, COMPLIMENT...

Women NEVER get tired of HEARING how good they look, how beautiful they are, and HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM.

They are INSATIABLE where compliments are concerned.

Men are VISUALLY stimulated. Women are stimulated AUDIBLY.

TELL HER... how beautiful she is.

TELL HER... how good she looks in that dress, or jeans.

TELL HER... how good her hair looks.

TELL HER... how good she smells...

TELL HER... how much you enjoy(ed) sex with her.

TELL HER, TELL HER, TELL HER...

And whatever you do, DON'T CRITICIZE HER.

You're not enemies, you're A TEAM.

Don't ATTACK one another: ALWAYS be on "his" or "her" side.

Jesus MUST BE #1 for every true believer.

For those who are married, your spouse is #2.

There are only 24 hours in a day. I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. Some of you are just plain LAZY.

I don't have a magic wand, and all the prayer in the world is not going to help you unlessYOUTAKE A PROACTIVE ROLE in these things.

If you can't, or WON'T apply some of these common sense principles, don't come whining to me.

The ONLY THING we can throw 100% on Jesus' back is OUR SALVATION.

Jesus EXPECTS US TO DO OUR PART IN EVERYTHING ELSE.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

THE HOLY SPIRIT

"And they WERE ALL FILLED WITH the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).

What sets TRUE Christians apart from all other humans on this planet ?

THE HOLY SPIRIT.

God is HOLY and God is Spirit (John 4:24).

Every TRUE believer in Jesus Christ is BORN-AGAIN of the Spirit (John 3:5).

Every TRUE believer in Jesus Christ HAS the Holy Spirit JOINED to his or her spirit ON THE INSIDE (1 Corinthians 6:17; 12:13).

Anyone who DOES NOT have the Holy Spirit INSIDE is NOT, repeat, NOT a true Christian (Romans 8:9).

I don't care WHAT denomination they are part of, I don't care how often they attend religious services, how often they pray, how many "good deeds" they do, how righteous they consider themselves, or how well they behave ON THE OUTSIDE.

Salvation takes place when God's Holy Spirit comes to LIVE IN US, PERMANENTLY (John 14:23).

The Holy Spirit is GOD'S SEAL OF OWNERSHIP that will make every true believer eligible AND ABLE to be raptured (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).

That's what happened to the 12 Apostles, our Lord's mother Mary, and the other 120 disciples on a day like today, almost two millenniums ago: on the Day of Pentecost that followed Jesus' Resurrection from the dead (Acts 2:1-4).

It was the Holy Spirit who turned a bunch of frightened fishermen, who ran away and hid a few days earlier, into THE BOLDEST, GREATEST preachers of the Gospel the world has ever seen.

It's one thing to HAVE the Holy Spirit (i.e. BE SAVED) it's another to BE FILLED with Him (Ephesians 5:18).

These are two separate and distinct experiences.

On Pentecost 33 A.D. the disciples were BOTH born-again and FILLED WITH the Spirit.

Sometimes these experiences take place simultaneously.

Sometimes they happen separately.

In my own case, I was saved for about 15 years before I experienced the FILLING OF the Holy Spirit with the accompanying manifestations of exuberant joy and speaking in tongues.

The Holy Spirit MUST BE WELCOMED into the heart and life of every believer.

Christians usually IGNORE Him and take Him for granted, TO THEIR OWN DETRIMENT.

He MUST NOT BE ignored. We must CONSULT Him CONSTANTLY. He is our ally, and COMPLETELY on our side.

His Wisdom is incomparable. His guidance and revelation are PRICELESS.

I rely on Him constantly, and freely admit to being totally lost and clueless without Him.

Ephesians 3:16-19 is MUST-READ for every believer.

This Scripture has particular relevance to the Holy Spirit and to the time of the end in which we're living.

It should be THE PRAYER of every child of God who looks forward to His appearing:

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT by His Spirit IN THE INNER MAN;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And TO KNOW THE LOVE OF Christ, which passes knowledge, THAT YOU MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF God".

We praise our heavenly Father and our God and Savior Jesus for sending His/their Wonderful Spirit to LIVE IN US and be our constant Companion.

He guides us to ALL Truth and shows us things to come (John 16:13).

(Provided, of course, that we ask His help and SEEK TRUTH with a SINCERE, UNBIASED heart that has NO religious agenda).

He comforts us in trials, He reveals hidden truth, He opens up the Scriptures, and He fills our hearts with joy.

The Holy Spirit is God. He was present at the Creation.

He is both, gentle and ALL-POWERFUL.

In fact, He is THE GREATEST FORCE in the universe, bar none.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014

ARE THOSE PROPHETS ?

Can ANYONE CHOOSE to become a prophet?

Is the office of prophet, or the gift of prophecy, A TEACHABLE VOCATION that can be learned through training?

Can they be acquired by participating in some man-invented curriculum?

Can some uber-anointed "man of God" TURN YOU into a prophet by laying hands on you?

One of the dubious practices popularized by the Pentecostal movement is inviting a so called "prophet" or "prophetess" to a service and having them prophesy TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL THERE.

WHERE in Scripture do we find THAT?

NOWHERE!

In the Bible, REAL prophets were sent BY GOD to prophesy to NATIONS and/or to KINGS (the LEADERS OF those nations), NOT to the average Joe walking down the street, or sitting on a pew.

There are NO INDIVIDUAL prophecies given in Scripture.

In 1 Kings 17 the prophet Elijah is sent to the widow as Zarephath. However, he didn't PROPHESY anything to her, but rather was fed by the widow and performed a couple miracles for her.

In 2 Kings chapter 4 Elisha does something similar for another widow after Elijah has gone up to heaven.

And in that same chapter he announces that he had performed a miracle in gratitude for this woman's frequent hospitality and thus her barrenness had ended and she would have a son.

In the New Testament we have the gift of prophecy mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14.

In 1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 12 it plainly states that this gift is used to strengthen and edify THE CHURCH AT LARGE, NOT individuals.

Nowhere does it say that those who have that gift go around prophesying to each person, one by one.

THAT, to put it bluntly, IS A BUNCH OF UNBIBLICAL RELIGIOUS CRAP.

NO TRUE PROPHET of God ever went around PROMOTING himself or herself or his/her "gift", as these jokers do.

All TRUE prophets EXALTED God/Jesus, NOT THEMSELVES.

99% of the so-called "prophets" and "prophetesses" in Christendom today are nothing but opportunistic, SELF-EXALTING CHARLATANS who PRETEND to prophesy SO THAT SILLY Christians will be IMPRESSED and DONATE MONEY TO THEM.

Just look at the way THEY LIVE: private airplanes, luxury cars, entourages, body guards, Rolexes, mansions...

Where in Scripture do you find Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist, the Apostle John, Paul, OR ANY TRUE prophet of God LIVING LIKE THAT?

NOWHERE.

Another unbiblical gimmick they have invented is the so-called "school of the prophets", as if the OFFICE of a prophet, or THE GIFT of prophecy, both of which COME DIRECTLY FROM GOD, at HIS SOVEREIGN CHOOSING, could be TAUGHT and learned by simple training.

They claim to "prophesy" by looking at people's faces, clothes or personal property, just like a psychic would use his highly developed observational skills to read people's minds.

This practice DOES NOT COME FROM the Spirit of God: it is A SHAM, and borders on the occult.

Furthermore, IT DEVALUES THE REAL office of prophet, and the TRUE gift of prophecy that come from the Spirit of God, turning both into nothing but cheap carnival acts.

This deceptive scheme was concocted by twisting certain passages in 1 Samuel and 2 Kings 4:38 where, in certain old English versions of the King James Bible it mentions a "school of the prophets".

The word "school", however, IS NOT FOUND IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT.

It was translated "school" in some VERY OLD King James Bibles. However, it DIDN'T REFER TO A LEARNING CENTER, but rather TO A GROUP, like "a school of fish" meaning a GROUP of fish.

There's NOTHING in Scripture that says these men became prophets BY ATTENDING SOME SCHOOL for HUMAN TRAINING.

The "sons of the prophets" were simply a BAND or GUILD of prophets that hung out together during that period.

To say that the office of prophet or the gift of prophecy can be TAUGHT and LEARNED, that people can prophesy in the Name of Jesus AT WILL and ON CUE, is LUDICROUS.

ARE THERE ANY true prophets of God today?

The answer is "YES", but they are VERY, VERY, VERY RARE and VERY, VERY, VERY HARD TO FIND.

REAL PROPHETS still follow the BIBLICAL pattern, not some INVENTED "prophesy on a whim" or "prophesy to each person" model.

That's why JESUS HIMSELF WARNED US of HOW WIDESPREAD religious deception would be PRIOR TO His appearing:

He said "DON'T LET ANYONE DECEIVE YOU", no matter how "Christian" they may claim to be.

For MANY would come IN HIS NAME (saying that Jesus is the Christ and supposedly prophesying in His Name) and WOULD DECEIVE MANY (Matthew 24:4).

Jesus also issued A DIRECT and OMINOUS WARNING to all self-appointed "prophets" and "prophetesses" of this final generation:

MANY would say to Him ON THAT DAY "Lord, Lord, DIDN'T WE PROPHESY in your Name"...?

And He will reply: "I NEVER KNEW you" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Translation: you're NOT a true prophet, you're NOT EVEN BORN-AGAIN: you're LOST and headed for hell.

If I were you, I would think it over AT LEAST 150 times BEFORE declaring yourself "a prophet of God".

It's God Himself who does THE CHOOSING, THE CALLING, and the ENABLING.

ALL ELSE is COUNTERFEIT.

I'd hate for you to be among those to whom Jesus will say:

"DEPART FROM ME, you workers of iniquity".

MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

NO PROBLEM

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Going through some difficult situation lately?

Is life giving you a hard time?

Is it hard to cope with day to day, moment to moment challenges?

Are you facing so many "problems" you don't know which one to tackle first?

But He did promise that because He OVERCAME this world, you would, too.

THIS is THE VICTORY that overcomes the world (and everything it can dish out) even OUR COMPLETE TRUST in Him.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2014

NEW WORLD ORDER

"New world order" is one of the catchphrases that prophecy gurus love to throw around.

Numerous books have been written and "prophecy conferences" devoted to something THE BIBLE DOESN'T EVEN MENTION.

That's right. You heard it here first: There's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the Bible about a "new world order". Zero. Zip.

Yet this false teaching is presented, over and over, as "BIBLICAL".

The common theme in conspiracy theories about a "new world order" is that a powerful, secretive and elite group like the Illuminati, Opus Dei, the Bilderbergers or Freemasons is conspiring to eventually rule the world.

This world government, supposedly, will give rise to the Antichrist, by appointing some mysterious character, living incognito somewhere in Europe, as its leader.

Some have even gone out on a limb and posited that this "conspiracy" will be extraterrestrial.

What amazes me is not that these opportunists try to cash in on the unbiblical eschatological furor they've FABRICATED, but that SO MANY "Christians" fall for it.

The reason Christians fall for this unscriptural GARBAGE is that they don't know the Scriptures.

WHY they don't know them is either because they're lazy or don't care. Lord knows we got Bibles everywhere! And Lord knows the Bible's been the same since it was written. It hasn't changed, nor will it change.

God's Word is CRYSTAL CLEAR that what'll give rise to the 3½-year world domination of the Antichrist, is not some "conspiracy", nor some elite group working behind the scenes, but God's deliberate plan.